Portable Air Monitoring Device Loan Program for Region 10 Tribes
EPA Region 10 has several portable air monitors available for use by tribal air quality staff in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
Note: The information gathered by this program is investigatory and not regulatory. The loan program is designed to provide portable monitoring equipment for the initial investigation of a complaint or concern relating to air quality on tribal lands. Additionally, this equipment is not to be used for confined space evaluations or to meet any other health and safety requirement.
Benefits
- Enables tribal air quality program staff to deploy more sensors across a small geographic area.
- Collect data with a finer resolution, over space and time.
- Smaller sensors now offer environmental data at a lower cost than traditional ambient air monitoring systems.
- Equipment can be managed with little training and maintenance.
- Devices are free to borrow.
Field Applications
Tribes can use portable air devices to monitor air quality and particulate matter (PM) pollution levels in elevated air pollution areas or during an increased smoke season (e.g. summer wildfire or winter wood smoke season).
Training
The equipment can only be used by tribal air staff trained in the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and data collection methods.
EPA's tribal air team will work with interested tribal air staff to determine when, where, and which air monitoring device would best meet their specific need. Tribal air staff who want to receive training on use of the monitors should contact India Young, 206-553-1219.
Equipment Available
Purple Air PA-II-SD Sensors
This ambient air sensor uses a new generation of laser particle counters to measure smoke, dust, and other particulate air pollution. These data are available through WiFi or SD download. The sensor measures fine particulate matter (PM2.5), temperature, humidity, and pressure. Purple Air PA-II-SD sensor data should only be used to generally interpret air quality.
Data from this sensor can be made publicly available through the Purple AirExitwebsite, which allows air quality staff to engage the public on PM levels and relate appropriate public health messaging.
One important note, this sensor has been generally understood to read values high. Therefore, users will have to use a correlation factor available on the Purple Air website. Tribes may request to borrow up to three ambient air sensors for up to three months.
Tribes should submit a request outlining their air monitoring needs and how the requested equipment will meet these needs. The team will review requests based on their specific needs, loan periods, and availability of sensors. Region 10 has multiple Purple Air PA-II-SD Sensors to lend on an ongoing basis.
TES 5322A Indoor Air Quality Monitors
This monitor measures four different values displayed on the screen: fine particulate matter (PM2.5), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), humidity, and temperature. The device converts the concentration of PM2.5 in the air to visual data and evaluates the air quality comprehensively. TES 5322A Indoor Air Quality Monitor data should only be used to generally interpret air quality. Tribes may request to borrow up to three ambient air sensors for up to three months.
Tribes should submit a request outlining their air monitoring needs and how the requested equipment will meet these needs. The team will review requests based on their specific needs, loan periods, and availability of sensors. Region 10 has multiple TES 5322A Indoor Air Quality Monitors to lend on an ongoing basis.
Handheld Gas Monitor
Handheld gas monitors configured to detect and measure hydrogen sulfide (H2S), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ammonia (NH3), and carbon monoxide (CO) in parts per million (ppm). One device is available that measures volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ppm, and another device measures VOCs in parts per billion (ppb).
Handheld Particulate Monitor
Handheld particulate monitor which gives real-time readings of particulate mater (PM10 and PM2.5 in µg/m3) as well as measuring carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in parts per million (ppm). The monitors have onboard memory, so measurements can be downloaded and stored for later use on a computer. Suitable for ambient monitoring where dust or wood smoke are a concern and can be used as a companion to the gas monitors when CO2 should be measured along with other gases.
Colorimetric Tubes
Used in conjunction with a hand-pump, the single-use colorimetric gas detection tubes change color in direct correlation to the concentration of gas present, allowing instant measurement of specific toxic and combustible substances.
Handheld Weather Monitor
Easy-to-use handheld weather station measuring temperature, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction, along with several other weather parameters.
Request to Borrow Equipment
Contact India Young (young.india@epa.gov), 206-553-1219.